Machine for sewing looped fabrics



Sept. 17, 1929. s. T. ARNOLD MACHINE FOR SEWING LOOPED FABRICS Original Filed Dec. 17, 1926 e 3 8 a s0 3 o o E 3 w w 0 w R a Z Mill]! I N V EN TOR. J'aflaz'lee Tflrnold Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITE STATES SATTERLEE '1. ARNOLD. OF IRVING'TGN, NEXV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE W. S. MILLS CODIPANY,

GF BRIDG EPORT, CGNNECTICUT Application filed December 17, 1926, Serial No. 155,455. Renewed February 6, 1929.

Th is invention relates to a machine for sewing together plies of looped fabrics, or other articles, wherein the articles are united by a continuous chain of stitching extending from article to article which stitching must afterwards be severed at points between the articlcs.

An object of. the invention to provide in a machine for uniting or sewing together plies of looped fabrics, or other articles, as, for example, a n'iachine for uniting or sewing the edges at the toes of stockings to complete the stockings, a thread seve ing mechanism including a movable k ife or shearing member for cutting a continuous chain of stitching extending from article to article controlled by the looped fabrics or other articles.

A further object is to provide in a machine of the character mentioned, a thread severing mechanism including a movable knife or shearing member and a thread stretching or tensioning gage cooperating with said severing mechanism, both or either of said mechanism and said gage being controlled by the looped fabfics or other articles.

A further object is to provide in a machine for uniting or sewing together plies of looped fabrics, or other article as, for examp e, a machine for uniting or sewing together the edges a' the toes of stockin 4 to complete the stockings, a thread severing mechanism including relatively movable shearin members for cutting a continuous chain or stitching extending from article to article controlled by the looped fabrics or other articles.

A further object is to provide in a machine of the chai acter mentioned, a thread severing mechanism as stated, and a thread stretching or tcnsioning device adapted to cooperate with said severing mechanism in unique man net to insure that the severed end of thread proiccting beyond a stocking or other arti cle will not be liable to ravel back and leave a hole in said stocking or other article.

A further object is to provide in a machine including means for uniting' the plies of articles. such. for example, the edg s of knitted stockings, by a continuous chain of stitcln ing extending through and between the articles, a thread severing mechanism including knives or shearing members having motion in direction toward and away from each other but limited or retarded in their action by the articles in the machine and allowed to sever the continuous chain of stitching when beyond an article to be not limited or retarded by said article.

A further object is to provide in a machine including means for uniting the plies of articles, such, for example, as the edges of knitted stockii'igs, by a continuous chain of stitching extending through and between the articles, a thread severing mechanism as just stated, and a thread stretching or tensioning gage cooperating with said severing mechanism at the time of and just before the severing of the continuous chain of stitching to make certain that the severed end of thread projecting beyond an article will be of predetermined length, to insure that said severed end will not be liable to ravel back and leave a hole in said article. and to make more positive the cutting action of the severing knives or shearin g members.

A further object is to provide a thread severing mechanism as stated, which will include a spring normally pressing a movable knife or shearing member toward a stationary knife or shearing member, means automatically actuated to intermittently Withdraw said movable knife or shearing member away from said stationary knife or shearing member, and an arrangement whereby an article having the continuous chain of stitching can limit. retard or arrest the action of said spring when released by said automatic means to withhold said movable knife or shearing member away from said stationary knife or shearing member, or can allow said movable knife or shearing member to cooperate with said stationary knife or shea ing member to sever the continuous chain of stitching at a location beyond said article.

A further object is to provide a thread severing mechanism as described in the preceding paragraph, and a thread stretching or tensioning gage cooperating with said modernism to make, more positive the action of the severing knives or shearing members, to make certain that the severed end of thread projecting beyond an article will be of predetermined length, and to insure that there will be no unraveling of said severed end, said stretching or tensioning gage itself being spring actuated toward its thread stretching or tensioning position and being withdrawn and withheld from said stretching or tensioning position by approximately the same means as is said movable knife or shearing member withdrawn and withheld from said stationary knife 01' shearing member.

A further object is to provide a thread severing attachment for a machine of the character described, which attachment will be equipped with means for cutting a thread or continuous chain of stitching without necessity for removing said thread or chain of stitching out of its natural position between articles united or sewed in the machine.

\Vith the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear the specification proceeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as now to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is mere ly illustrative and intended in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long as Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a machine in which the features of the invention are incorporated Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the thread severing attachment. disclosing a part of the machine with which said thread severing attachment is associated;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the thread severing attachment, parts being re moved. as it would appear from the lower part of the sheet in Fig. 1, the scale being the same as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the attachment, partially in section, as it would appear from the left in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3, disclosing the thread severing mechanism and the thread stretching or tensioning gage as when a piece or portion of looped fabric or other article in the machine is limiting, retarding, or arresting the action of the stretching or tensioning gage and the movable knife or shearing member to withhold said stretching or tensioning gage away from its thread stretching or tensioning position and to withhold said movable knife or shearing member away from the stationary knife or shearing member;

5 is a view corresponding with the disclosure of Fig. 4, but disclosing the stretching or tensioning gage and the movable knife or shearing member as wh n not limited. retarded, or arrested by the looped fabric or other article, said stretching or tensioning gage being in its thread stretching or tensioning position and said movable knife or shearing member being in the thread severing position of the movable and stationary knives. or shearing members;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the attachment positioned as in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan vii w of said attachment positioned as in Fig.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the machine there disclosed. and selected purely for the purpose of illustration, comprises a stationary bed plate 10, provided with an upwardly and outwardly projecting supporting arm 11. The arm 11 tern'iinates in a bearing head 12 carrying a vertical shaft 13, and a stationary supporting disc or dial plate 14. The disc or plate 14 may be provided with the usual ring 15 carrying a peripheral series of outwardly extending impaling pins 16. The loops of fabric to be united are placed over the impaling pins 16 in well known manner, and the ring of impaling pins is given a revolving movement, the movement being continuous and uniform as disclosed.

The machine is adapted to be driven by a belting communicating with a suitable source of power and passing over a driving pulley 17 carried upon a driving shaft 18. said driving shaft being mounted in a bearing head 19 of the bed plate 10 and passing through a suitable bearing opening in the rear poi tion of the supporting arm 11. The driving shaft 18 is provided with a crank 20 for manual operation and is adapted to be thrown into gear with the driving pulley 17 by means of a slidably mounted clutch member 21 adapted to be operated by means of a clutch operating handle or lever 22, in a well known manner.

A vertically movable shaft carrying arm or member 23 extends outwardly at right angles to the driving shaft 18 and is provided at its rear with a bearing head 24 pivotally mounted upon the driving shaft 18. The arm or member 23 is provided at each end with depending bearings carrying a sha ft 25. said shaft receiving its motion by means of a bevel gear 26 meshing with a bevel gear QT on the driving shaft 18. The shaft 25 is provided at its outer or free end with a worm gear 28 normally meshing witl a gear whrel 29. The gear wheel 29 is carried upon one end of a shaft (not shown) mounted in depending bearings beneath the stationary sup porting disc or dial plate 14 and provided with a pinion meshing with a rack on the underside of the ring 15 carrying the impalingi; pins 16. Vhen the worm wheel 15 is in mesh with the gear wheel 29 it is apparent that the gearing described will impart a revolving motion to the ring 15 and the impalinp; pins 15.

Reference numeral represents, general- 1y, a stitching entity to which fabric impaled upon the pins 16 is adapted to be carried in such manner that said stitching entity can join the loops of adjacent edges of pieces or portions of said fabric. 31 indicates, ecnerally, actuating mechanism for said stitching entity, 32 is a trimming knife situated in the path of the impaled fabric it travels to ward the stitching entity. said knife beine; for the purpose of trimming the edges of th fabric to be joined. and 33 represents a part of a stop motion device ad'acent the severing: knife 32 forming no part of the present invention. The stitchinsr entity 30 and the actuatine' mechanism 31 can be of any construction suitable for their purpose.

The machine as generally hcreinbefore described has been heretofore known. Articles to be sewed. such as knitted stockings having: superimposed edges to be united. are p aced upon the impalina pins 16 in spaced relation to each other, and the stitching); which goes through the articles extends continuously from article to article in the machine. As disclosed in Fig. 1. said articles are impaled at a location to the left of the trimmine: knife 32, the arrow denoting the direction of travel of the ring 15 with the impal ne; pins. As said ring feeds ahead. the articles are first trimmed by the knife 32 in a well known fashion and move from the location of said knife to the stitching entity where the sewing of the articles is accomplished.

The novel and improved thread severing attachment, designated generally at 34, is located upon the stationary supporting disc or dial plate 14 at any suitable location beyond the stitching entity; that is to say, in the path of travel of the articles when past the stitching entity, as indicated at 35 in Fig. 1.

Of the thread severing attachment. 36 is a frame or support fastened to the disc or plate 14 as at 37 to be adjustable circumferentiallv of the ring 15. said frame or support exteiiding' radially outwardly of said disc or plate 14. The frame or support 36 is, as disclosed. constructed to be adjustable lengthwise, numeral 38 representinc an outer member of said frame or support adjustably located as at 39 in a guide way of an inner member 40 of the frame or support. the guide way extending radially of the disc or plate 14. The sidewisc and lengthwise adjustments of the frame or support 36 are for the purpose of properly locating the thread severing attachment in the machine and can be accomplished in any convenient or suit able manner, not necessarily the manner illustrated.

As disclosed, the outer member 38 of the frame or support- 36 includes an upright 41 from a side of which upper and lower shanks,

represented 42 and 43, respectively, project. The shanks 42 and 43 have externally threaded inner end portions engaging threaded openings in the upright 41, and each shank has a slotted head 44 whereby the shanks can be turned into the upright. A vertical stationary-knifesupporting member 45 has an opening 46 at its upper end receiving the shank 42. and an opening 47 in a lug intermediate its ends receiving the shank 43. A set screw 48 in the upper end of said member 45 and engaging the shank 42 serves the purpose of fixing the member 45 in the predetermined spaced relation to the upright 41 which is desirable. The shanks 42 and 43, naturally, cooperate with said set screw 48 to hold said member 45 stationary.

The vertical stationary-kmfe-supporting member 45 includes a bifurcated lower end portion providing spaced legs 49 and 50 l igrs. 4 to 7). Numeral 51 represents a stationary knife or shearing member secured in any suitable fashion. at 52, to the inner face of the leg 51), the cutting edge 53 of said stationary knife or shearing member being ver ically disposed and facing outwardly of the machine.

Numeral 54 designates a m0vableknifeactuating member having an opening at its upper end whereby it is rotatably mounted upon the shank 42, as at 55, between the member 45 and the upright 41. See Fig. 3. The movable-knife-actuating member 54 includes a bifurcated lower end portion providing spaced legs 56 and 57 approximately in alignment with the legs 49 and 50, and said movable knife actuating member is adapted to be oscillated from and toward said stationary-knife-supporting member, whereby said legs 56 and 57 can move toward and away from said legs 49 and 50.

A movable knife or shearing member 58 rotatably supported upon the shank 43 has an eccentric slot 59 receiving a pin (it) upon the log 56, the arrangement of the slot and pin being: such that when the stationary member 45 and the movable member are spaced apart a little distance the cutting edge of the movable knife or shearing member is at considerable distance from the cutting edge of the stationary knife or shearing; member (as in Fins. 4 and (i), and when said stationary member 45 and movable member 54 are closer together or continuous with each other, the movable knife or shearing member is in severing relation to the stationary knife or shearing member (as in Figs. 5 and 7). That is to say, the movable knife or sl'iearing mem her is associated with the shank 43 and the movable member 54 in such manner that a short throw of said movable member 54 furnishes a much longer throw of said movable knife or shearing member. A coil spring 61 upon the shank 43 and between the head of said shank and said movable knife or shearing member resiliently presses a face of the movable knife or shearing member against the adjacent face of the stationary knife or shearing member. This will be apparent from Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Numeral (32 represents a short rod extending through openings, designated and 64, in portions of the members 45 and 54, respectively, preferably located below the shank 4:2 and above the shank 43 (see Figs. 4 and 5). a plate having a flange 66' arranged in a crossslot 67 in the face of the member 54 opposite the melnber 45, an opening (38 receiving the rod 62. and a depending portion {31) engaging the edge of the movable knife or shearing member 58 opposite the cutting edge thereof. 70 is a washer upon the rod (32 and against the plate 65, 71 is a coil spring upon the rod against said washer, 72 is a head of the rod engaging the face of the member 45 opposite the member 54. and 73 is a nut adjustable upon the end of the rod adjacent the coil spring 71 for placing the coil spring under any pre ferred tension. It will be evident from Figs. 4 and 5 that the coil spring 71 is adapted to normally urge the n'lovable member 54 into engagement with the stationary member 45 and the movable knife or shearing member in cutting relation to the stationary knife or shearing member 51.

Means is provided for intermittently withdrawing the movable member 54 and movable knife or shearing member 58 away from the stationary member 45 and stationary knife or shearing member 51, respectively. Of this means, 74 is a link, adjustable as to length as at 75, pivotally connected as at 7(3 to the lower portion of the movable member 54 and eccentrically con nected as denoted generally at 77 to the free end of the worm gear 28. It will be obvious that as the worm gear 28 rotates, the link 74 is given o:-1cillator v reciprocatory IUOVODICMZ imparting oscillations to the movable member 54 upon its axis, the shank 42. The eccentric connection at 77 includes an elon gated slot 78 in the link 74 making PIOViSlOH for movement of the member 54 away from the member 45 by the operative connection between said link and the worm gear, and for the movement of said member 54 toward said member 45 by the coil spring 71, as will be understood.

The manner in which the thread severing attachment thus far described operates will be obvious. Reference character A designates the upper portion of a stocking or other article impaled upon the pins 16 (see Figs. 4 to 6) The stationary knife or shearing member 51 is disclosed as situated a ght distance. say one-sixtecnth of an inch, inside. of the stocking or other article, said stationary knife or shearing member depending vertically a slight distance below the upper edge of said stocking or other article. In Figs. 4 and 6 a part of the movable member 54 (the thread stretching or tensioning gage movable with said member 54 and yet to be described) is disclosed as resting against said stocking or other article to withhold the movable knife or shearing member away from the stationary knife or shearing member. It is to be understood that a different or an integral part of said movable member 54 could rest against said stocking or other article upper edge just as well as the special device disclosed to Withhold the movable knife or shearing member away from the stationary knife or shearing member. In Figs. 5 and 7 the stocking or other article has ridden from beneath the thread severing attachment, and the coil spring 71 has acted to cause the movable and stationary knives or shearing members to cut the thread, designated B. The link 74 is arranged to cause the movable member 54 to be intermittently moved away from the stocking or other article A a distance further than shown in Figs. 4 and 6 as the worm gear 28 rotates and the ring 15 advances. Upon each release of said member 54 by said link 74, through the instrumentality of the elongated slot 78, the coil spring 71 acts to move said movable member 54 and said movable knife or shearing member 58 toward the stationary member 45 and the stationary knife or shearing member 51, respectively. So long as the stocking or other article A is in the path of a part connected to move with said movable member 54 (as, for example, the thread stretching or tensioning gage), the movement of said member 54 toward said member 45 is limited, retarded, or arrested by said stocking or other article, to thus withhold the movable knife or shearing member 58 away from the statitmary knife or shearing member 51, as in Figs. 4 and 6. But the instant the stocking or other article rides clear of the thread severing attachment, the coil spring 71 moves the movable knife or shearing member to the position as in Figs. 5 and 7, against the relatively weak resistance of the thread B, thus severing the continuous chain of stitching extending between stockings or other articles in the machine. It will be understood that the intermittent movements of the member 54 away from the member by the link 74 as the worm gear 28 rotates occur in comparatively rapid succession, while the ring 15 advances relatively slowly.

Numeral 7 9 designates a thread stretching or tensioning device or gage pivoted at 80 between the legs of the movable-knife-actuating member at the side of the movable knife or shearing member 58 opposite the station ary knife or shearing member 51. 81 is a flat spring secured to the member 54 as at; 82 and engaging the rearward edge of the thread stretching or tensioning device or gage at as 83 in Fig. 2. 84 is a pin upon the device or gage 79 adaptedto ride upon the rearward cam shaped edge 90 of the movable knife or shearing member 58. See Figs. 4 and 5. The lower portion of the device or gage 79 includes a horizontal guide lip 85 just. above the elevation of the stockings or other articles A, adapted to have to and fro movement radially of the dial plate 14 and transversely of said stockings or other articles, said guide lip 85 being capable of movementfrom itsposition in Fig. 5 to a position somewhat to the right of its position in Fig. 4. 86 is a hook part of said stretching or tensioning. device or gage 79 providing a horizontally opening groove 87 facing the stockings or other articles at the elevation of the continuous chain of stitching B.

The mannerin which the thread stretching or tensioning device or gagefunctions will be obvious from Figs. 2 to 7,, and from the description of the method of operation of the movable knife. or shearing member already given. When the movable member 54 is-oscillated to its farthest distance from the stationary member 45, toward the right of. its position in Fig. 4, the device or gage 7 9, naturally, moves to a position at the right of that in Which it is shown in said Fig. 4, the pin 84 being forced to ride outwardly uponthe convex part of the cam shaped edge 90 adjacent the lower part of the movable knife or shearing member 58 against the action of the flat spring 81. When the movable member 54 is released by the link 74, through the instrumentality of the elongated slot 78, the coil spring 71 acts to move said member 54 toward the member 45 and the flat spring 81 acts to cause the pin 84 to ride inwardly upon the convex part of said cam shaped edge 90 back to its position of Fig. 4 when a stocking or other article is at the location of the thread severing attachment, and said stocking or other article limits, retards, or arrests the thread stretching device or gage to withhold said device or gage from its thread stretching or tensioning position and said movable member 54 away from the member 45. Upon said stocking or other article riding from beneath said thread severing attachment, or, as specifically disclosed, from the stretching or tensioning gage of said attachment, the coil spring 71 acts to move the member 54 to its position of Fig. 5, and the flat spring 81 acts to cause the pin 84 to ride inwardly upon the concave part of the cam shaped edge 90, as disclosed in said Fig. 5, so that the stretching or tensioning gage 79 has inward movement to an extent greater than the movable knife or severing member; that is to say, sufficient inward movement under the spring tension of the flat spring 81 to resiliently stretch the thread. Obviously, the arrangement can be such as to furnish any preferredstretching. or tensioning action of the gage, depending upon-the construction of the cam shaped edge 9O. Duringthe movement of the parts'of the attachment from the position as in Figa4 to that as in Fig. 5, the thread havingbeen engaged by the hook part 86 (note'tl'iethreadf in. Fig. 5 lying in the groove 87 theicontinuous chain of stitching B between adjacent stockings or other articles hasbeen stretched or tensioned, and at the termination of the'stretching or tensioning action of the gage, the movable and stationary knives have cooperated to cut the thread. See Fig. 7.; V I j Themembers 45, and 54 are provided with inwardly projecting guide lips, denoted 88 and 89, respectively, situated beneath the elevation of the continuouschain of stitching, to cooperate with theguide lip 85 of the gage to insure that the thread or continuous chain of stitching will bepositively carried to and acted upon by the shearing knives and the gage, as will be understood.

I It will be evident that the thread stretching or tensioning gage need not be thepart of the present attachment which is arrested by the stockings or other articles A. A fixed part of the movable member 54 can engage the stockings or articles, and the thread stretching or tensioning gage can still function to stretch or tension the thread in approximately the manner as stated.

While the movable and stationary knives or shearing members can be operated without theemployment of the thread stretching or tensioning gage, it will be apparent that said gage will make certain that the severed end ofthread projecting beyond an article will be of predetermined length, will insure that said severed end will not unravel to leave a hole in an article, and will make more posi tive the cutting action of the severing knives or shearing members by placing the continuous=chain of stitching under; tension during the severing operation. And while the thread stretching or tensioning gage stretches or tensions the continuous chain of stitching out of the natural line of travel of the thread, the thread line is not and need not be deflected at the cutting location from its natural course of travel in the machine in order that the severing knives or shearing members may pro-- duce'the cut.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a. machine including means for sewing, articlesgby use ofa chainof stitching extending through and between the articles, a thread severing attachment including a movableshearingmember, means for intermittently actuatingv said shearing member, and a device movable with said actuated shearing member adapted to engage an article when said article is adjacent said shearing for actuating said shearing member, and mechanism whereby said articles can arrest the 'motion of said shearing member when adjacent an article and said shearing "member can out said chain of stitching at a location beyond an article, said mechanism 'includinga thread stretching gage cooperating with said shearing member.

7 3. In a machine including means for sewing spaced apart articles by use of a chain of stitching extending through and between the articles", a thread severing attachment including a movable shearing member, means for actuating said shearing member, and a thread stretching gage adapted to be arrested by an article when adjacent said shearing member to withhold said shearing member away from said article and adapted to be released by said article when beyond said shearing member to engage said chain of stitching and stretch the same and to allow said shearing member to engage said chain of stitching while stretched.

4. In a machine including means for sewing spaced apart articles by use of a chain of stitching extending through and between the articles, a thread severing mechanism including a movable shearing member, means for actuating said shearing member, and a thread stretching gage movable with said shearing member adapted to engage an article when said article is adjacent said shearing member to withhold the shearing member from said article and adapted to ride clear of said article when said article is beyond said shearing member to engage said chain of stitching to stretch the same and to allow said shearing member to sever said stretched chain of stitching.

5. In a machine including means for sew ing spaced apart articles by use of a chain of stitching extending through and between the articles, a thread severing mechanism including a movable shearing member, means for actuating said shearing member, and a thread stretching gage, movable with said shearing member adapted to engage an article when said article is adjacent said shear-.

chain of stitching while stretched at a location between articles.

6. In a machine for sewing spaced apart articles by use of a chain of stitching extending through and between the articles, a stitching entity, a thread severing attachment, and mechanism for feeding said articles first to said stitching entity and then to said thread severing attachment, said thread severing attachment including a shearing member, and a thread stretching gage associated with said shearing member adapted to engage an article to withhold said shearing member away from said article and adapted to be released by said article to engage and stretch said chain of stitching and to allow said shearing member to engage and out said chain of stitching while stretched.

7. The combination as specified in claim 1, wherein the device movable with said actuating shearing member includes a thread stretching gage adapted to engage and stretch the chain of stitching just before and at the time of the severing of said chain of stitching.

8. In a machine of the character described, a stationary shearing member, an actuating member pivotally associated with said stationary shearing member, a movable shearing member pivotally associated with said stationary shearing member and having a cam shaped portion and an eccentric engagement with said actuating member, a thread stretching gage pivoted upon said actuating member and having a pin riding said cam. shaped portion, and spring means normally urging said stretching gage in direction toward said stationary shearing member.

9. In a machine of the character described, a stationary member including a shearing knife, an actuating member pivotally associated with said stationary member, a movable member including a shearing knife and a cam shaped portion opposite said knife, said movable member being pivotally supported upon said stationary member and having an eccentric connection with said actuating member, a thread stretching gage pivoted upon said actuating member and having a pin riding said cam shaped portion, and spring means normally urging said gage in direction toward said stationary member.

Si ned at Bridgeport, in the county of F airfield and State of Connecticut, this 9th day of December, A. D., 1926.

SATTERLEE T. ARNOLD. 

